

The National Centre for Computer Animation – Bournemouth University




The aim of the NCCA is to promote science in the service of the arts and to embed a theoretical underpinning within a contemporary professional setting, allowing graduates to leave BU with highly sought-after skills in the computer animation, visual effects and computer games industries.
The National Centre for Computer Animation has been at the forefront of computer graphics and animation education and research in the UK since 1989. In 2011, the Centre was presented with the Queen’s Anniversary Award for “World-class computer animation teaching with wide scientific and creative applications” and its contribution to world-leading excellence and pioneering development in the teaching of computer animation. The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes form part of the national honours system and are the most prestigious awards in UK education. Many BU graduates have gone on to win awards for the quality of their visual effects work, including Oscar winners for films such as Inception, Interstellar and Ex Machina.
Countries: United Kingdom
Location: Campus
Industries: 3D Animation Visual Effects Immersive Media
Software: Adobe Substance Painter Autodesk Maya Houdini Nuke Unreal Engine
Programs: Bachelor Degree Masters
Certifications: Houdini Certified School Unreal Academic Partner
Courses
BA (Hons) Computer Animation Art & Design
This cutting-edge course places an emphasis on the creative side of computer animation, combining traditional art disciplines like life drawing and cinematography with more technically focused disciplines.
BA (Hons) Computer Animation Technical Arts
Technical Art/Direction is the practice of using art/animation and computing/maths skills to solve aesthetic problems. This course is a unique 50/50 mix of art and science.
BA (Hons) Visual Effects
If you have a strong desire to work in the feature film visual effects industry or associated areas, this is the perfect course for you. This course will use tools and design work created by students on our Computer Animation courses in Art & Design and Technical Arts to create visual effects work, just like it happens in the feature film visual effects industry. As such, the course doesn’t cover the technical aspects of mathematics and programming or the more creative aspects of character design and story generation.
MA Digital Effects
This course will provide you with a strong theoretical and technical underpinning for the principal areas of study, thanks to lecture series on filmmaking techniques, green screen, MOCAP, computer graphic principles, the fusion of art and technology, personal research, and applied digital effects theory and practice.
MA 3D Computer Animation
This Master’s is the perfect launch-pad for a career in a wide range of disciplines, including concept design, character and creature animation, modelling, lighting, rigging, texturing, compositing and simulation. The course will help you acquire the skills needed to work in a number of areas where computer animation is applied, including films, animated features, computer games, television production, commercials, illustration, scientific visualisation, and flight simulation, to name just a few.
MSc Computer Animation & Visual Effects
During your year-long study, you will develop your programming and scripting skills, and become familiar with special techniques and tools associated with computer animation. These skills are assessed in a variety of projects you will undertake during the year. Emphasis is placed on the use of industry-standard hardware and software in the development of these techniques.
MSc Artificial Intelligence for Media
This new course focuses on using existing machine learning frameworks of Tensorflow and PyTorch to address practical problems in media production. As a student on this course, you will have access to the latest deep learning methodology such as VGG, LSTM and GAN which are commonly used in AI research on image processing.
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Achievements

Global School Rankings 2021
Awarded to Schools that ranked highly in the Rookies Global School Rankings 2021.

Global School Rankings 2022
Awarded to Schools that ranked highly in the Rookies Global School Rankings 2022.

Certified School
Formal accreditation awarded to schools that provide the highest quality education.

Global School Rankings 2020
Awarded to Schools that ranked highly in the Rookies Global School Rankings 2020.
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